Connecticut western news., 1887-06-29
THE NEW CRUISER.
Her Maiden Trip from Chester to
 New York Satisfactory.

Thele was a commotion among the people at the Navy Yard when big black hull, with rcd water-linc and cream-colorcd smokestacks, moved slowly in from the East River and was made fast to the Cob Dock. It was the Chi cago, the fourth and last of tho fleet contract ed for by the Government with John Roach tS Son, and built at Chester, Penn. The new ac- Quisition rived without spars and rigging, and had a generally incomplete look, but as she lay near the others of the fleet at the navy yard she resembled the Dolphin on big scale far more than she did the Atlanta and Boston.
 All the officers who were not on duy hast ened to inspect the Chicago, and found plenty to interest them, notwithstanding her unfin- ished condition. She does not look as grace full as pleasure yacht, but might be mistaken for an ocean freight steamer. She has box like stern and stubborn looking stem, with a pronounced sweep toward the water line, hint ing at the fuur-foot ram she has under water. Looking at the Chicago from astern there is a her powerful and formidable aspect. Amid ships, on both sides of the spar deck, are ex- tension openings for heavy guns. Below the whale-back nothing is visible except the hull, the screws and rudders being below the water line. A front view gives one a good idea of her heavy tonnage and powerful model.
 The steamer was begun ill August, 1883. Her water line measurement is 325 feet, beam AS feet, mean draught 19 feet, and displace- ment 1, 800 tons. She is provided with twin screw ana lWO compound cDSlDeS of ?, 800 horse power each The hull and ma- chinery cost SSS9OOO. She is, therefore, the most expensive of the fleet, the Dolphin's hull and machinery costing S3l5, ,OO0 and those of tho Boston and Atlanta I61S,O each. Tho work under contract on the Chicago is practi- cally finished Sho is yet to be spared, rigged, furnished, and fitted for sea. Prior to equipment she will be loaded to mean draught of IS feet and the sea trial prescribed by contract made. Probably this will take place very soon.
 The ship is now being wired for electric lights. The Edison system will be used, and over 400 arc lamps will be required. Already she is fitted with electric bells, speaking tubes and other conveniencos. Her woodwork is polished sycamore. Size has flush spar deck, with iron bridges which will cover her big guns. Below the spar deck is the gun deck for the main battery, with the quarters of the Admiral and Captain aft. Below is the berth deck. She has protection deck over machinery and boilers. Further protection is given the engines and ma chinery by the coal bunkers, whose ,pacity is $50 tons. There are collision bulkheads fore and aft, IA water-tight compartments and double bottom under the machinery The hull is constructed of half-inch plates
 The Chicago will carry IA guns-four S-inch, eight 6-inch, and two 5-inch. The 8-inch guns will be placed on the spar deck, the others below. The ships peculiar construction will give direct forward fire of two S-inch and two 6-inch guns, and Q direct aft fire of two 8-inch and two 5-inch guns.